ABC Election Coverage: 2006 South Australian Election

Mawson (Key Seat)

Adelaide Outer Southern Suburbs

Marginal Liberal 3.6%

MP

Robert Brokenshire (LIB) since 1993.

Profile

An electorate in two parts. It covers the outer southern suburbs of Woodcroft, Hackham, Hackham West, Huntfield Heights and Noarlunga Downs, as well as the regional shopping centre at Noarlunga. However, the electorate also extends south of the Onkaparinga Gorge to include the southern wine region around McLaren Vale and Willunga.

Redistribution

Loses a slice of Onkaparinga Hills west of Kimbley Road to Reynell. According to the calculations of the Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission, the Liberal margin has been cut by 0.2%.

History/Trivia

The electorate is named after Sir Douglas Mawson (1882-1956), who was Professor of Geology at the University of Adelaide (1921-52), but is best known for his part in four Antarctic expeditions between 1908 and 1931. The 2002 election was a break in tradition for Mawson, being the first time since the seat's creation in 1970 that it had not been won by the party that formed government. A marginal Labor electorate at the 1993 election, it was easily won by Robert Brokenshire with a swing of 12.2%. Brokenshire defended Mawson well in 1997, the seat recording Adelaide's smallest swing to Labor at just 4.6%. Labor made little ground up in 2002 either, a further swing of just 0.3%.

2-Party Booth Result

The Liberal Party recorded majorities in six of the nine booths used in 2002, its vote ranging from 36.9% at Noarlunga Downs Primary to 74.0% at the McLaren Flat Recreation Hall.

Main Candidates

48 year-old Robert Brokenshire is a former dairy farmer and real estate director who was first elected in 1993. He served as Minister for Police, Correctional and Emergency Services in the Olsen and Kerin governments. His Labor opponent is 39 year-old Leon Bignell, a former print, radio and television sports journalist and commentator. He has been working in recent years as Chief of Staff to Energy Minister Pat Conlon.

Issues and Polls

An Advertiser poll in mid-November suggested the Labor Party were ahead in this seat. Labor's chances have been assisted by Family First's decision to issue a split preference ticket. In 2002, the party had polled 6.6% of the vote and delivered 65.5% of preferences to the Liberal Party.

Assessment

A excellent result for the Liberal Party in both 1997 and 2002, but the contest will be much tougher now that Labor has improved its popularity through presiding over a booming economy.